Do you have pet insurance for you cat/dog?
Poll: Do you have pet insurance for you cat/dog?
Total Members Polled: 127
Discussion
Terminator X said:
In 40+ years we've never had a big bill for a pet, waste of money imho as is all insurance tbh.
TX.
Edit - I'd query the madness of shelling out 6 grand on a cats vet bill but perhaps I'm just not a pet person!
You said it.TX.
Edit - I'd query the madness of shelling out 6 grand on a cats vet bill but perhaps I'm just not a pet person!
Edited by Terminator X on Thursday 3rd January 21:01
Both cats and dog insured since we had them. When the dog was about 2 she had some kind of eye problem needing a specialist doggy eye hospital and resulting in a bill of nearly £3k. I've never grumbled about premiums since then, I reckon we're quids in for many years to come!
On the flip side, my OH's grandfather has owned dogs all his life and never once had them insured or vaccinated. His vet's bills over the last 50 or 60 years have come to less than £200.
You takes your chances, I guess
On the flip side, my OH's grandfather has owned dogs all his life and never once had them insured or vaccinated. His vet's bills over the last 50 or 60 years have come to less than £200.
You takes your chances, I guess
They're both insured, and have both incurred large bills (cats) - one for several thousand for an investigation into fluid around her heart, and the other has just had surgery to remove a tumour blocking his intestine which looks to be cancer, and is being assessed for further treatment.
However I will never use this insurance co again - they changed the policy on me, so that when they reached 10 years old, we now have to pay 25% of the bill. They also only cover £4,000 per condition ever (whereas I thought it was per year). So for diabetes or something which requires ongoing care (or possibly this cancer thing), it tops out at a 4k payout, of which we have to pay an extra 25%.
I would go with Petplan next time. I think the costs are around the same, and you seem to get much more for your money. Also hopefully they aren't as rude on the phone!
Although I would think next teime about 15 years or so x the cost of the insurance, versus what a long eterm condition would cost, and perhaps just bank the money...
However I will never use this insurance co again - they changed the policy on me, so that when they reached 10 years old, we now have to pay 25% of the bill. They also only cover £4,000 per condition ever (whereas I thought it was per year). So for diabetes or something which requires ongoing care (or possibly this cancer thing), it tops out at a 4k payout, of which we have to pay an extra 25%.
I would go with Petplan next time. I think the costs are around the same, and you seem to get much more for your money. Also hopefully they aren't as rude on the phone!
Although I would think next teime about 15 years or so x the cost of the insurance, versus what a long eterm condition would cost, and perhaps just bank the money...
Simpo Two said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
It's a myth to think that it you don't claim on your insurance, you've "lost". You haven't lost, you're paying for peace of mind and that's what you've had.
My financial adviser says things like that.No, to me £20K out and £16K back is a loss of £4K.
Simpo Two said:
ATEOTD it's a gamble. You might win, you might lose.
No, it isn't a gamble. Not having insurance, now that's a gamble. You're pet might be fine, or it might not. You buy insurance to remove the gamble! That's what you pay for and that's what you get. Whether you claim or not isn't important. You don't win when you have a claim that's covered by insurance, as they only pay the cost of the vet's fees. You don't end up any better off because your cat got run over. And you don't lose when you have no claims. didn't bother initially as the (rescue) cat was so highly strung and neurotic it seemed that if something serious were to happen she'd have to be put to sleep anyway.
So she gets me back by injuring the one thing that she can survive without and won't require being fed pills every day (still got the scars from bundling her into a cat basket) - her tail had to be amputated. Vets bills came to £600 or so.
Now I've got cat insurance just in case, but its only to avoid big bills in case she injures something else survivable. Can't think what, but £20 a month for an 11 year old cat is cheaper than £600 a year, so I'm happy. Might shop around see if I can get it cheaper!
So she gets me back by injuring the one thing that she can survive without and won't require being fed pills every day (still got the scars from bundling her into a cat basket) - her tail had to be amputated. Vets bills came to £600 or so.
Now I've got cat insurance just in case, but its only to avoid big bills in case she injures something else survivable. Can't think what, but £20 a month for an 11 year old cat is cheaper than £600 a year, so I'm happy. Might shop around see if I can get it cheaper!
Never had it for my Spaniel, after four years I was getting smug about how much I'd saved. Then I got hit with a nigh on £2k bill for the little bugger!
Nothing much since but he's 9 now & still crazy so it's only a matter of time I suspect, too late to insure him for sensible money now as they will impose exemptions anyway.
OHs Westie has been covered from day one as they are known to suffer from numerous issues, she has claimed at least once.
Cat not covered any longer but the kitten is until it calms down a bit!
Nothing much since but he's 9 now & still crazy so it's only a matter of time I suspect, too late to insure him for sensible money now as they will impose exemptions anyway.
OHs Westie has been covered from day one as they are known to suffer from numerous issues, she has claimed at least once.
Cat not covered any longer but the kitten is until it calms down a bit!
Our two were insured from kittens by the breeders. Then we shopped around and switched insurers. Quelle surprise, when we came to claim, the new insurers were very picky about calling anything related to any part of the animal a pre-existing condition.
My advice is if you are going to insure, pick a company straight away ASAP, and stick with 'em!
And P.S. was disappointed (but not surprised) to find that the vet had passed on every little comment, which again added to the ammunition. For example we said (concerning a potential limp) that one of our cats had always walked a little lop-sided and that had been noted. In reality - she probably didn't - we were referring to being able to tell the difference between them in the pitch dark in the bedroom because of the wooden floors and slightly high-heels type of clicking from the claws.
My advice is if you are going to insure, pick a company straight away ASAP, and stick with 'em!
And P.S. was disappointed (but not surprised) to find that the vet had passed on every little comment, which again added to the ammunition. For example we said (concerning a potential limp) that one of our cats had always walked a little lop-sided and that had been noted. In reality - she probably didn't - we were referring to being able to tell the difference between them in the pitch dark in the bedroom because of the wooden floors and slightly high-heels type of clicking from the claws.
Edited by CarCluster on Friday 4th January 13:42
Thanks for all the replies peopes 
We had a months complimentary with Petplan from the breeder, but this has now expired.
The mrs is not keen on them as there was some issue over a claim with her previous dog (years ago).
We also looked at Sainsbury's plan, until we checked the underwriter - I'd stick s
tty sticks in my eyes before going with them again.
Any other recommendations?
We had a months complimentary with Petplan from the breeder, but this has now expired.
The mrs is not keen on them as there was some issue over a claim with her previous dog (years ago).
We also looked at Sainsbury's plan, until we checked the underwriter - I'd stick s
tty sticks in my eyes before going with them again.Any other recommendations?
Absolutely vital IMHO.
The last thing you want to be worrying about when a problem comes up is can you afford it. You just want it fixed/operated/treated as soon as possible and the most appropriate treatment.
Ours has saved us one £4k bill and numerous smaller bills (in the hundreds). When our cat went missing it even paid for the reward we gave.
Its not as common in N America apparently but I suggested that family there with animals looked into it and again its mare than paid for itself.
The last thing you want to be worrying about when a problem comes up is can you afford it. You just want it fixed/operated/treated as soon as possible and the most appropriate treatment.
Ours has saved us one £4k bill and numerous smaller bills (in the hundreds). When our cat went missing it even paid for the reward we gave.
Its not as common in N America apparently but I suggested that family there with animals looked into it and again its mare than paid for itself.
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